Suns add Hanley to midfield ranks

Former Brisbane Lion Pearce Hanley has been traded to the Gold Coast Suns.JOE CASTRO

AFL: Brisbane will be hoping Port Adelaide finishes as low as possible in season 2017 after a three-way deal of draft picks and one player, Pearce Hanley.

The 27-year-old, who made 129 appearances for the Lions, is now a Gold Coast Sun.

In the mega trade the Lions gained the Suns' second-round selection from this year (No.22) and the Power's future first-round pick next year.

The Power got back the Lions' first-round priority pick (No.19) and the Suns' No.30.

If the Power was to finish last next season, the Lions would in turn be given the coveted No.1 selection.

Hanley has won two Marcus Ashcroft Medals as the best player in QClashes, and Ashcroft himself, now the Suns' football boss, was "rapt” to have him on board.

"Our priority during the exchange period has been to add mature-aged talent that could make an immediate impact at our football club, and Pearce certainly fits that criteria,” he said.

The Suns were still in negotiations to send Dion Prestia to Richmond and Jaeger O'Meara to Hawthorn.

They currently hold selections four, eight, 24, 26, 44, 62 and 67 in next month's draft.

The Lions still have picks three, 16, 21 and 22.

After rejecting an approach to join the Lions, Hawthorn veteran Jordan Lewis officially joined Melbourne, new teammate Tom Bugg welcoming him with the tweet "If you can't beat them, join them hey” after the Demons beat the Hawks for the first time in 10 years in August.